Ben Shelton’s awkward on-court interview at the US Open became an unexpected talking point after the American overcame a slow start to win his opening-round match in New York.
The eighth seed recovered from losing the first set to defeat Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, keeping his campaign alive in front of a partisan home crowd.
Shelton, who has established himself as one of the leading American men in the draw, appeared far more comfortable during the match than he did when speaking to the interviewer afterwards.
The exchange quickly became strained, with the player offering brief responses as the conversation failed to settle into a natural rhythm. The moment contrasted sharply with Shelton’s performance on court, where he regained control after a nervy opening set.
Griekspoor made the stronger start and exposed errors in Shelton’s game, but the American responded immediately in the second set. He raised the intensity of his serving and groundstrokes, then edged a tight third-set tie-break before pulling clear in the fourth.
The victory adds to Shelton’s strong record at Flushing Meadows, where he reached the semi-finals in 2023. His progress will now continue into the second round, although it was his uncomfortable post-match interview rather than his tennis that drew much of the attention after the match.
